SEC, Big 12 rivals take top 4 BCS spots
LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State hold the top four spots in the first BCS standings, setting up two potentially huge conference games that could determine which teams play for the national title.
Southeastern Conference rivals first-place LSU and second-place Alabama meet Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Tigers play defending national champion Auburn at home on Saturday and the Crimson Tide is at Tennessee. If they can get through that, both will be off for a week before a likely No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup that could decide the SEC West.
Third-place Oklahoma and fourth-place Oklahoma State have to wait longer to play their potential Big 12 showdown. The Bedlam rivalry is set for Dec. 3 in Stillwater, Okla.
The only other time the top four teams in the first BCS standings of the season came from two conferences was 2000, when the Big 12 (Nebraska and Oklahoma) and the Big East (Virginia Tech and Miami) did it.
The BCS standings combine the coaches' poll, Harris Poll and a compilation of six computer rankings.
The top four teams in the AP Top 25, which is not part of the BCS standings, were LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
Boise State was fifth in the first BCS standings, in good position to at least earn a spot in the five most lucrative bowl games, if not the BCS championship game Jan. 9 in New Orleans.
Wisconsin was sixth, followed by fellow undefeated teams Clemson and Stanford. The other two undefeated major college teams are Kansas State in 11th place and Houston in 19th.
Lattimore out for season. South Carolina star tailback Marcus Lattimore is out for the season with a knee injury. Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier announced Lattimore's status Sunday, saying "our worst fears were realized." Spurrier said Lattimore has ligament and cartilage damage in his knee sustained when he was blocking in South Carolina's 14-12 win over Mississippi State. Spurrier said doctors want the knee to stabilize for a few weeks before operating on Lattimore. Lattimore had been the Southeastern Conference's top rusher most of the season until he was overtaken by Alabama's Trent Richardson.
